Godzuki the iguana exhibits wonderful personality at SC-CARES

Iguanas are lizards originally found in South America and Brazil, and sadly their numbers there are declining due to loss of habitat and the exotic pet industry.

These creatures have adapted in many areas in the United States and are thriving here in the wild, especially in Florida and Texas where the climates are warmer more often. There are so many in the pet trade that they’ve become what’s called a “disposable pet” because they’re often sold to people who have no clue about their needs, and they often die within the first year of life. I remember in years past going to our local fair and seeing infant iguanas being given away as prizes just like goldfish and beta fish have been. Of course, the people taking these creatures home usually pay no more attention to the animals’ needs than they would if it were a stuffed bear. Hence, the animals perish.

Godzuki has a wonderful personality, although he’s not fond of being held, but he absolutely loves being petted and will raise his head, close his eyes and soak up the attention. He also enjoys his shower (a sprayer of warm water). Most reptiles have a slower metabolic rate so eating constantly is not their way.

Godzuki and the other lizard here at the S.C. Coastal Animal Rescue and Educational Sanctuary are fed a mixture of green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes and a little apple chopped in the blender, sitting on a bed of dark greens, such as collards, kale, mustard and turnip. We add a calcium supplement to their food as well. Iguanas are primarily herbivores. Some enthusiasts will feed iguanas mealworms or crickets, but Godzuki has never been interested in eating them.

I’m sure many of you have seen the movie “Godzilla,” and if you love animals like we do, you probably felt sorry for the “monster lizard” in the end — I know I did! Similar to Godzilla, iguanas have several means of defense, and if they’re agitated, it’s best to let them be. Not only are their nails very sharp, but their mouths are full of sharp, serrated teeth, capable of tearing vegetation, and human flesh if provoked.

As for our boy, Godzuki, his first line of defense is his tail, and we watch and respect the tail! It is a very powerful part of his body as he braces himself and throws that tail into action like a whip. I have firsthand experience with being tail-whipped, and let me tell you, the burning lashes across my legs were not pleasant. Godzuki was startled by the cat, and my legs were in striking distance.

Male iguanas have a dewlap, a fleshy piece of skin hanging on their chins, which they use in courtship and to frighten would-be predators. They can make it stand out, which makes them appear larger. Males and females have spines down their backs, and both have a parietal eye. This transparent scale is also known as a “third eye.” Iguanas can’t see images with this eye but are able to detect movement and light and dark. This is a very useful aid to them to detect predators from the air, such as hawks.

Godzuki is actually part of the original SC-CARES group from when we opened in 2006. He is a green iguana, measuring close to 4 feet in length. As you can see, he’s a very handsome boy. To our knowledge, Godzuki is at least 15 years old, and with a life span of 15 to 20 years, we hope he’ll be with us a while longer.

This story was originally published December 31, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Godzuki the iguana exhibits wonderful personality at SC-CARES."